First glimpse of the new Star Wars movie: The Last Jedi

FANS have been given the first glimpse of the next Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi.

The teaser trailer for the new film, episode eight in the saga, was screened for the first time in front of the franchise's biggest fans at the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Florida, on Friday afternoon.

The sneak peek was dropped as part of a panel discussing the new movie, which included appearances from Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), new face Kelly Marie Tran (Rose) and director Rian Johnson.

The trailer, which was screened twice in a row for fans at the convention, was met with cheers and a standing ovation.

The two-minute video does not give a lot away, but fans are given glimpses of sweeping shots of the breathtaking landscape where Luke Skywalker has been hiding, distant lightsaber training, Kylo Ren's smashed mask, the

Millennium Falcon in full flight, the return of beloved droid from The Force Awakens BB-8, and explosions galore.

The cryptic trailer ends with Skywalker saying, "I only know one truth, it's time for the Jedi to end".

A glimpse Carrier Fisher’s final performance in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.Supplied

Some of the series' biggest names have appeared at the convention, including Harrison Ford (Han Solo) and director George Lucas.

Bille Lourd brought fans to tears on Thursday when she gave an emotional tribute to her mother Carrie Fisher, who died in December.

Fisher, who played the iconic role of Princess Leia, is expected to have a significant role in The Last Jedi, which she finished filming before her death. Fisher is only shown briefly in the trailer from behind.

Expectations for the new movie are high after Episode VII: The Force Awakens pulled more than $US2 billion at the box office and became the third-highest-grossing film of all time, according to Box Office Mojo.

The Last Jedi is expected to be released in Australia in mid-December.